The Not So New 2024 50 Books a Year - Thread 2

Hi Lovetopaint, glad you enjoyed The Story of the Forest. I haven't read The Clothes on their Backs. I really enjoyed these ones by Linda Grant, We had it so Good, The Dark Circle, Upstairs at the Party. The only one of hers I didn't like much was Stranger City, but that wouldn't put me off reading others by her such as the one you mentioned, she is a very good writer imo.

87-Wild Fire-Ann Cleeves-This is the last of the Shetland series, and I have really enjoyed them all. Jimmy Perez has help from his boss Willow Reeves to solve the case. I couldn't wait to get to the end and see if Jimmy is killed off or if he goes to pastures new.

Hello everyone. I’m back under a new name (thank you GNHQ). I used to be Urmstongran. 👋

I’m looking for a new novel to start on my Kindle so I’ve popped in here for inspiration.

I’ve recently read ‘The Women’ by Kirsten Hannah. Set in Vietnam during the war in the 60’s. A good read but not as good as ‘The Nightingale’ or ‘Four Winds’ in my opinion.

Then I read “Seating Arrangements” by Maggie Shipstead (Booker prize 2021).
Which I thoroughly enjoyed. Set in Maine, New Hampshire. I do love a book about family dynamics -they’re my favourite genre. I must read another of hers - she’s a new author to me. A real pleasure of a find.

And yesterday I finished “The Other Side of the Bridge” by Mary Lawson. My heart was in my mouth a couple of times (again family upsets and disclosures) and I cried at the end Dear Reader.

I seem to have very similar literary tastes to you Terribull so I’m ordering this one - Babysitter - Joyce Carol Oates. Thank you for the recommendation!

Also I loved ‘The Dry’ when I read it a couple of years back. I’d forgotten about it (thanks Oreo) so I’ll look up more from Jane Harper while I’m at it. Actually I feel I read one of hers recently. Must check my Kindle. I can’t remember the title. It was a cracking read though.

I’ll get back to you on it.

Me again.

That Jane Harper book I read was “The Lost Man”.

Whilst scrolling through my extensive list (ahem) I came across ‘Last Man in Tower’ by Aravind Adiga. A novel I thoroughly enjoyed years ago. Would highly recommend.

And ‘A Good Neighborhood’ by Terese Anne Fowler.
Brilliant!

“The Paper Palace” by Miranda Cowley Heller.
Ditto.

And non fiction:

“When Breath Becomes Air” by Paul Kalanithi.
“A Mother’s Reckoning” by Sue Klebold.
“The Radium Girls” by Kate Moore.

Right - I’ll leave you in peace now I’ve a novel to read … 😊

Welcome back FriedGreenTomatoes in your new guise.

I hope you enjoy Babysitter, a word of warning, there are some upsetting bits relating to child abduction, the abductor was known as "Babysitter". However, it is a novel, you'll cope with those bits, particularly as I think I remember you saying previously that you'd read and liked "A Little Life", I haven't, but I know some who have, pretty gruelling I gather,

Of those books you've mentioned above, I've read The Paper Palace. Yes! very good, it was a holiday read from a couple of years ago lazing around a swimming pool in the heat.

Also The Radium Girls, what happened to those women was absolutely shocking.

Making a note of your other recommendations.

Do give us your feedback when you've read Babysitter,

Hello FriedGreenTomatoes

Can I recommend "Exiles" by Jane Harper which is one of her best in my view.

Also any others by Mary Lawson - they're all good and of the same genre.

You might also like Digging to America by Anne Tyler if you haven't already read it.

Like you, I enjoy reading books about "familyupsets and disclosures" which you mention.

I'm going to reserve *Seating Arrangements" from the library which you recommend. It sounds ideal.

😊😊
I love this thread!

Like minded folk. I really missed joining n!
(Probably that’s why I’m so giddy today ha!).

I’ve added ‘Exiles’ to my Kindle Sparklefizz thank you!

I love Anne Tyler (my favourite genre again!) and ‘A Spool of Blue Thread’ remains a firm favourite. Must look up D2A now!

Ladies, another Anne Tyler fan, and digging to America is my favourite of her novels,
If you like family drama, might I recommend
This Family, by Kate Sawyer.

Hi Sara1954, I've just taken a look at This Family and think it's my sort of thing so have reserved it from the library. Thanks for the recommendation.

You’re welcome Sparklefizz, let me know if you enjoy it

My #68 was Blue Lightning by Ann Cleeves one of the earlier Shetland ones. Perez returns to Fair Isle with his fiancée Fran. It was slightly spoiled because, having read several later ones and watched the TV series, I knew what was going to happen in the end, also, I guessed who the killer was. I still enjoyed it though. 8/10

#69 The Silence Between Breaths by Cath Staincliffe. I hadn’t heard of this book until it was discussed here recently so thank you to those who mentioned it. It was a page turner and I rattled through it very quickly, being almost reduced to tears at times. 8/10

Not long back from a stay at a Buddhist Retreat Centre in Scotland. Reflected in the following. A bit niche perhaps. But hopefully of interest to some.

# 42. The Magic of Japanese Zen Gardens: Thomas Kierok.
Text and pictures of Japanese Zen Gardens in Kyoto across the seasons. Zen gardens stand for harmony, slowness, simplicity. Loaned by a friend but will buy own copy. A beautiful book,

# 43. Why I Wake Early: Mary Oliver. Book of poetry. Love it.

# 44. Lodro Rinzler: The Buddha walks into a Bar. A guide to life for a new generation.
Lively, engaging...but not my cup of chai

# 45. Neil Astley and Pamela Robertson-Pearce: Soul Food. Nourishing Poems for Starved Minds.
Poems drawn from many traditions, ranging from Rilke and Blake to Emily Dickinson and Carol Ann Duffy. Speak to readers of all faiths as well as none.
Enjoyable pick and mix.

# 46. Mindfulness for Health. A practical guide to relieving pain, reducing stress and restoring wellbeing: V. Burch and D. Penman.
Based on a meditation programme developed by V. Burch to help her cope with the severe pain of spinal injury. Taught at Breathworks in the UK. First prize, 2014 (Popular Medicine) BMA Book Awards.
CD included of guided meditations.

Thank you GeminiJen for info regarding interesting reads that are informative and evidence based. I might look up one of them.

#76. One Of Us Is Dead by Peter James.

The latest Roy Grace book, just got it from the library. Lovely and new, I’m the first to receive it, I think.

Book 157, The 24th Hour, by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro. It`s the latest in the Women`s Murder Club series, I`ve loved all of them, including this one.

I have just finished reading Victoria Hislop’s ‘The Figurine’. A long book, and predictable, but engrossing. I’ve never read anything by her but may see what they have at the library. Currently soaking myself in a book of Carol Anne Duffy’s poems “Feminine Gospels”, and dipping into a book of essays by Zadie Smith.

And before the Victoria Hislop, ‘Queen Macbeth’ by Val McDermid. A different take on the Macbeth story and very readable.

#64 Hide and Seek by Andrea Mara

The game of Hide and Seek is over but toddler Lily Murphy hasn't been found. This peaceful Dublin suburb will never be the same again.

Years later, Joanna moves into her ideal home which seems perfect in every way until she learns that Lily used to live there. Joanna has a little girl roughly the age that Lily was when she went missing, and she can't rest until she finds out what has happened to Lily.

88-Something Borrowed, Someone Dead-M C Beaton-Murders solved by Agatha Raisin. Not as amusing as some of the others in this series.

Greyduster, I recently read The Figurine, and liked it. I`ve read a few of Victoria Hislop`s books set in Greece, loved all but one of them.